Wreath making machine



Oct. 23, 1956 E. o. PORTER 2,767,499

WREATI-I MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 5. 0. Porter A 7' TOR/VF Y 1956 E. o. PORTER WREATH MAKING MACHINE 2 Sheets Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1954 FIG. 4

' INVENTOR. 0 Pokter ///M@ ATTORNEY WREATH MAKING MACHINE Ezra 0. Porter, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application September 27, 1954, Serial No. 458,315 3 Claims. (Cl. 41-3) of each group of clippings overlapping the stemsof an adjacent group of clippings until the stiffener is completely covered by the clippings. It will be apparent that such an operation is time consuming and inefficient. The wreaths cannot be kept for a long period of time and the seasons during which most wreaths are sold are extremely short, hence the need for an eflicient wreath making operation.

The present invention contemplates a novel wreath making machine wherein the clippings are automatically secured to the wreath stiffener. The machine is provided with a rotating sectional head containing a supply of binding wire for securing the stems of the clippings to the stiffener. The machine is so arranged that the stiffener is moved by hand through the head and clippings are placed on the stiffener. Upon rotation of the head, the clippings are secured to the stiffener.

An important object of this invention is to make wreaths in a minimum of time and at a minimum expense.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel sectional head for a wreath making machine which automatically dispenses and wraps wire around a wreath upon rotation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and durable Wreath making machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wreath making machine having a long service life and which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of my wreath making machine in operating position.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the head portion illustrating the separation of the head.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the head.

Figure 4 is a plan view ofthe wreath making machine with a partially shown wreath stiffening Wire inserted therein in position for making a wreath.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view through a stiffening Wire illustrating one method of securing the stems of clippings to a wreath stiffening wire by use of my novel machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figure 1, reference character 4 generally designates my novel Wreath making machine installed on a suitable work table 6. A power unit 8, preferably an electric motor, is mounted on a slanting supporting board to drive the "nite States Patent 2,767,499 Patented Oct. 23, 1956 ICC machine 4. The lower end 12 of the support board 10 is secured to the top of the table 6 by a suitable hinge 14. Thus, the motor-8 may be pivoted on the table 6 as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

A push rod 16 is secured to the support board 10 and extends downwardly through an aperture (not shown) in the table 6. The rod 16 extends loosely through the table 6 and is pivotally secured at its lower end to a lever .18. The lever 18 is in turn pivotally secured to a leg 20 of the table 6. It is preferred that the lever 18 be arranged at a convenient height for operation by the foot of a person utilizing the machine 4, and may have a suitable pedal (not shown) on the outer end 22 thereof if desired. The lever 13 is used to force the push rod 16 down against the action of a helical compression spring 24 which surrounds the rod 16 and is anchored to the supoprt board it) and the top of the table 6.

The drive shaft 26 (see Figure 4) of the motor 8 extends forwardly and has a friction roller 28 rigidly secured on the outer end thereof. The roller 23 is provided to contact and rotate the head portion, generally indicated at 3d,.arcund a stiffener 32 when the lever 18 is depressed as will be subsequently set forth.

The head portion 30 (see Figure 1) is annular shaped with an outer ring 34 supported concentrically around the cylindrical hollow hub 36 by spaced radial arms 38. As shownin Figures 3 and 4, the hub 36 is longer than the ring 3-0 and has a retaining ring 40 formed on the outer periphery thereof at each side of the ring 34. The inner bore 41 of the hub 36 is of a size to loosely receive one side of a completed wreath as will be hereinafter set forth.

The outer ends 42 of the hub 36, outwardly of theretaining rings 46, are machined to provide bearing surfaces for reception ina pair of L-shaped brackets 44.

The brackets 44 are secured in parallel spaced relation to the top of the table 6 by bolts 46 to rotatably support the head 36 therebetween. Also, a slot 48 is formed in the table 6 between the brackets 44 to receive the outer ring 34 and permit rotation of the head 30. Each bracket 44 has a bearing race 50 formed in the upper end thereof to receive the outer ends 42 of the hub 36. The races 56 are formed on the arc of a circle and are slightly longer than a semi-circle to engage more than one-half the periphery of the respective hub surface 42. Therefore, the head 30 will be held by the brackets 44 during rotation.

As will be apparent from Figure 2, the head 30 is constructed in two sections 52 and 54. On the ring 30, one end 56 of thelarger section 52 is bifurcated to receive the reduced end 53 of the smaller section 54, and a pivot pin 64 extends through the mating ends 56 and 58. Thus, the sections 52 and 54 are pivotally interconnected. Also on the ring 30, a small plate 62 is secured on the end 64 of the large section 52 to support a radially extending dowel pin 66. A radial groove 68 is formed in the end 70 of the smaller ring section 54 to receive the pin 66 when the ring 30 is closed as shown in Figure 1, and assist in aligning the sections 52 and 54.

A shaft 72 is rigidly secured to the inner periphery'of the small ring section 54 near the end 58 and extends across the section 54'into proximity with the end 70. A spool 74, containing wrapping wire 76, is rotatably disposed on the shaft 72. The spool 74 is retained in the desired longitudinal position on the shaft 72 between a fixed plate '78 and a small helical spring 80. The spring surrounds the shaft 72 and is anchored at one end to a nut 82 threadedly secured on the free end of the shaft 72. The opposite end of the spring 80 engages a washer 84 loosely disposed on the shaft 72in abutting relation with the adjacent end of the spool 74. Thus, the spring fitl retains pressureon the ends of the spool 74 to provide a braking action and prevent unlimited, rotation of the spool.

A smaller shaft or rod 86 is secured to the inner periphery of the ring section 54 parallel to and outwardly of the shaft 72. The rod 86 is provided to guide the wire 76 into an aperture 88 formed in the central portion of the hub 36. By running the wire 76 over the rod 86, the fleet angle of the wire is decreased as the Wire is unwound from the spool 74 and as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The hub portion 36 of the head 30 is also split at 90 and 92 to complete the sect-ions 52 and 54. It will be observed that the splits in the hub 36 are substantially aligned will the splits in the ring section 30 to provide the hub 36 with a large section 94 and a small section 96. The circumferential length of the larger hub section 94 is slightly greater than the length of the bearing races 50, thereby permitting an upward swinging movement of the hub section 96 when the head 30 is in the position shown in Figure 2 to open the head 30 and permit insertion of the wreath stiffener 32 or removal of a finished wreath (not shown).

It will also be observed that the portions of the retaining rings 40 on the small hub section 96 are slightly longer than the circumferential length of the main body portion of the hub section 96. Therefore, when the head 30 is closed, as shown in Figure 1, the extended ends of the retaining rings 40 will contact the outer surface of the hub section 94 and assist in aligning the head 30.

Operation In making a wreath with the present invention, the roller 28 is retracted from the head 30 (as illustrated in Figure 2). Actually, the spring 24 (Figure l) retracts the roller 28 each time the foot lever 18 is released. The small section 54 of the head 30 is then manually swung upwardly on the pivot pin 60 (as shown in Figure 2) for insertion of the circular stiffener 32 in the hub 36 in the manner. of links in a chain. Whereupon the head 30 is closed (as shown in Figure 1). The stiffener 32 will then extend through the head 30 as shown in Figure 4.

The free end of the wrapping wire 76 is looped over the guide rod 86, threaded through the aperture 88, and then tied .to the stiffener 32 as shown in Figure 5. The motor 8 is then placed in operation. As the operator holds the stiffener 32, he places the stems 100 of a bunch of spruce clippings on the stiffener 32 next to the wire 76 and depresses the lever 18. The roller 28 frictionally engages the outer periphery of the ring 34 and rotates the head 30 in the brackets 44, (as shown by the arrow in Figure 1). It will be apparent that as the head 30 rotates the spool 74 is moved in an orbit, and the wire 76 is wrapped around the stiffener 32 and the stems 100 of the clippings. With a slight longitudinal movement of the stiffener 32, the entire length of the clipping stems 100 are wired to the stiffener.

The lever 18 is then released to retract the roller 28 and the head 30 comes to rest. Another bunch of clippings are placed in overlapping relation over the first group of clippings in the usual fashion with the stems thereof in contact with the stiffener 32 and extended slightly beyond the stems 100 of the first clippings. When the lever 18 is again depressed and the head 30 rotated, the wire 76 will be wrapped around the stems of the second group of clippings. This operation is repeated until the entire stiffener 32 is covered with clippings to form a wreath. It will be apparent that the finished wreath will be annular shaped, and will be linked with the head 30 in the same way as links in a chain. The head 30 is then placed in the position shown in Figure 1 with the hub section 96 above the bearing racesSO and the head 30 is opened (as shown in Figure 2). Upon removal of the wreath from the head 30, the wire 76 is severed in proximity with the wreath, and the loose end of the wrapped wire is tucked under the adjacent clippings.

In Figure 1 it will be observed that when the head 30 is in operating position, the roller 28 is in contact with the ring section 54 when the hub section 96 is above the bearing races 50. Furthermore, the roller 28 is so arranged that it contacts the ring section 54 prior to the time the slit of the hub 36 leaves the bearing race 50 during rotation of the head 38. Therefore, the smaller section 54 of the head 30 will not swing outwardly during the rotation of the head.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides a novel wreath making machine which is simple in construction and may be economically manufactured. Wreaths may be made in a minimum of time and at a minimum expense. The rotating sectional head automatically dispenses wire and wraps the wire around an incompleted wreath, and will not come open during rotation.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawing, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A wreath making machine, comprising a support table, a pair of bearing members secured in opposed relation on said table, an annular shaped wrapping head rotatably secured at its opposite ends in said bearings, said head being sectionally constructed to provide a removable section of substantially triangular configuration extending through an are less than one-half the circumference of said head, said removable section being pivotally secured to the main body portion of said head for radially outward swinging movement from said head, the upper ends of said bearings being open to provide bearing races having arcs substantially corresponding to the arc of the main body portion of said head to facilitate outward swinging movement of said removable section in one rotative position of said head, a power unit pivotally secured on said table, a friction head on said power unit arranged to contact the outer periphery of said head above the open ends of said bearings and rotate said head in one position of said power unit and release said head in a second position of said power unit, and lever means on said table for moving said power unit between said first and second positions.

2. In a wreath making machine, an annular shaped Wrapping head comprising an outer ring, said ring being split to provide a removable section extending through an are less than one-half the circumference of said ring, said removable section being hinged to the remainder of said ring at one end thereof for pivotal movement in a radial direction, and an annular shaped hub supported concentrically in said ring and being of a size to receive a wreath therein, said hub being split in radial alignment with the splits in said ring to provide a corresponding removable section and being of a length to protrude from opposite ends of said ring, a split bearing extending around each end of said hub a distance corresponding substantially to the circumferential length of the main body portion of said hub, a friction head for engaging the outer periphery of said head and rotate said head in said bearings, said friction head being arranged relative to said head to engage the removable section of said ring prior to complete removal of the removable section of said hub from said bearings during rotation of said head for preventing pivotal movement of said removable sections during rotation of said head, and means for driving said friction head.

3. In a rotatable head for making wreaths, comprising a ring, a hollow hub of smaller diameter than said ring, radial arms securing said hub concentrically in said ring, a wrapping wire spool rotatably carried by said ring radially outward of said hub for dispensing wrapping wire, and a guide carried by said ring outwardly of said spool for guiding wire dispensed from said spool, said hub having a transverse aperture through one side thereof for further guiding the wire, whereby the fleet angle of the wire from said spool into said hub is maintained at a minimum to provide uniform dispensing of the wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

